Local Y.M.C.A. teams with Missouri counterpart
The Young Men’s Christian Association of Belize and its counterpart organisation in St. Louis, Missouri have enjoyed a close working relationship for the last five years. Today, the associations are looking to strengthen those ties to improve and expand the programmes offered to their members. This week the partners met to review their plan of action. According to Y.M.C.A. Belize Executive Director Clara Cuellar they continue to be encouraged by increasing international support.
Clara Cuellar, Executive Director, Y.M.C.A.
?It is truly a comprehensive partnership where they try to see how can they help us to serve who we want to serve. They don?t tell us that, we express what we?d like to do and they try to support and compliment that. And at the same time, as all non-profit responsible organisations should do, try to help us to be self-sustainable.?
Karen Kocher, Chief Ops Officer, Y.M.C.A. of Greater St. Louis
?We are just proud to be involved with such a strong organisation that?s really serving the needs of your community here in Belize City and providing opportunities for children to learn how to swim and to be involved in the after-school programmes and just to become a healthier all around spirit, mind, and body child.?
John Arnold, Chairman, Y.M.C.A. of Greater St. Louis
?We spent a good part of our trip this week talking about the after school programme that the Y.M.C.A. is running here and we think there?s great potential for expanding that. We talked about other things that you need here that maybe we can help with. Schoolbooks for example seems to be a constant theme in terms of what the schools, both public and church affiliated, need. And so we?re gonna go back and see if there are ways we can help there. There?s an opportunity here I think to provide fitness equipment for those who might have access to this Y.M.C.A. facility.?
In June the Y.M.C.A. of greater St. Louis will be sending several teams to Belize to participate in a summer programme for students which will hopefully be expanded to include reciprocal visits by Belizeans to Missouri.
